When the news of the victory was brought by Kang Meng from Xiangping, Cao Rui led the remaining troops to Xiangping. It was June 11th.
Man Chong himself had led all the troops eastward, pursuing towards Gongsun Yuan.
The entire Xiangping city was under control of the Great Wei's central army cavalry. Each household's gate was tightly closed, and no one was allowed to come out.
Jiang Wei, the youngest of them all, was left by Kang Meng to defend Xiangping. At this moment, Jiang Wei, alias Jiang Boyu, rode at the front, leading Cao Rui slowly into the west gate of the city.
As he walked, Jiang Wei introduced, "Your Majesty, ahead lies the palace built by the rebel Gongsun Yuan. I have, under General Man's orders, expelled everyone inside the palace and have sealed it up properly."
"Should Your Majesty wish to enter and take a look?"
Cao Rui sneered: "I have come, so I will take a look. Gongsun family has grand ambitions. The palace is built in the style of a king's residence!"
Sima Yi added fuel to the fire beside him, "The Gongsun rebels have been rebellious for three generations. I have heard that when Gongsun Du was still alive, he had already built temples to the Han Emperor Gaozu and Han Emperor Guangwu in the city of Xiangping, and established altars for sacrificing to heaven and earth in the south of Xiangping. The chariots and banners were all against the regulations."
Early in the morning, the tiger guards opened the palace gate and began to check everywhere. Soon, Cao Rui also entered the palace and looked around as if he was watching a play. However, his interest soon faded.
Cao Rui pointed to the slightly cracked gap on the lintel above the door and said, "The Gongsun family wants to imitate the Central Plains' style, but they don't do it well. The varnish has cracked; couldn't Gongsun Yuan see this?"
Sima Yi smiled and said, "The remote and cold region of Liaodong is not a place where they can have much knowledge. Should Your Majesty wish to stay here tonight?"
"Fine." Cao Rui glanced inside with contempt and then turned his horse to leave: "There must be a government office in Xiangping. I will stay in the government office. As for Gongsun Yuan's palace, whether it is burned or dismantled, you can do as you like. I won't interfere."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Jiang Wei gave a slight bow: "I have checked, and all the registers of the household registration in Liaodong are in the governor's office. I will hand them over to the Marquis of Si as well later."
"Okay." Cao Rui said: "Since I am already in Xiangping, let the Marquis of Si handle these matters."
"Boyu, come with me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Jiang Wei replied.
Shortly after, in the governor's office of Xiangping City in Liaodong.
Cao Rui was dressed in a thin silk robe, sitting in the center of the hall. Sima Yi, Xu Shu, Lu Yu, Pei Qian, three riders, and Commander Jiang Wei were all seated on the sides of the hall.
The weather in Liaodong in June was just as hot as that in Luoyang, and there was no difference at all.
Cao Rui coughed lightly: "The army has already captured Xiangping, and Gongsun Yuan's defeat is destined. The Gongsun family has ruled Liaodong for nearly fifty years. How to deal with the Gongsun family, how to reincorporate Liaodong into the imperial government, and how to stabilize the border of the imperial court."
"Today, all of you may speak freely. I would like to hear your opinions. Whether it be the Marquis of Si, the Assistant Minister, or even the Deputy General, all may offer their views."
Sima Yi did not yield the floor to others despite the emperor's order to speak freely, and directly said: "The Gongsun family's three generations have been clearly rebelling against the Great Wei. According to both the laws of the Great Wei and the principles of Spring and Autumn, the Gongsun family should be exterminated."
Xu Shu, Pei Qian, and the rest of the crowd listened to Sima Yi's words and all agreed.
This time, the campaign against Liaodong must result in the complete annihilation of the Gongsun family; this is an obvious truth. We have all climbed through many storms and struggles. Who would have any compassion for the Gongsun family?
And what's more, if a few members of the Gongsun family were left behind, and there were any further unrest when the army returned to Henan, what would we do then? Would Liaodong still be under control, and would we have to repeat the entire operation?
Seeing that there was no dispute on this topic, Cao Rui had nothing else to say, and immediately declared: "Then let's follow the law."
"Regarding the other two matters I mentioned, what are your thoughts, all of you?"
At this time, Sima Yi was silent.
Sima Yi was the first to suggest exterminating the Gongsun family. He not only satisfied his personal vendetta as a former governor of Henan Province and a student of Li Min, but also set the tone for the entire imperial court debate.
The several officials of the imperial court remained silent for a moment. Cao Rui laughed and pointed at He You: "Come, the riders speak first."
He You bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Liaodong has been without imperial governance for too long, just like the state of Liang in Huangbao years. The subject believes that it is necessary to select a virtuous and capable high official from the central court to govern here, to enlighten people, manage education, standardize laws, and make Liaodong gradually indistinguishable from other states and districts in the interior."
Nothing new, the right but useless words.
However, Cao Rui did not respond and instead pointed to Xiahou Huì: "Zhiquan!"
Xiahou Huì said: "Your Majesty, the Just of He has already said some things. The subject has a superficial idea that for the long-term stability and lasting peace of Liaodong, it is necessary to dispatch a high-ranking official of the central court to command the outside troops in Liaodong, so as to deter the disloyal." Cao Rui nodded and gestured to Du Xu with his eyes: "Wubu! You are the oldest among the justices, and what do you think?"
Du Xu thought for a moment, then bowed and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, I also have a superficial suggestion. To secure Liaodong, I believe that it would be advisable to relocate some of the people of Liaodong to live in Ji Province."
Only then did Cao Rui reveal a faint smile, "That's interesting. Wubu, tell me more about which people should be relocated."
Du Xu bowed and said: "The Wugang Palace of Emperor Wu had several times moved the population in order to relieve the border troubles between Wu and Shu during the Jian'an years. Liaodong has already been captured, and the dangers are no longer foreign invaders but internal troubles."
"I believe that all the noble families, wealthy clans, and bureaucratic households in Liaodong should be relocated to live in Ye City, just like the Lingyi system of the Western Han dynasty. If we remove all the noble families and former officials, the court will naturally be able to freely manage and arrange in Liaodong without worrying about old influences."
"Ha ha ha." Cao Rui laughed several times and pointed at the officials: "Look at my scribes, Wubu. Is it not worthy of your father's name?"
Xu Shu smiled and bowed: "Du Zhengcang is practical and has unusual talent. I believe he will be of great use in the future."
Sima Yi watched the three court officials smiling and flatter the emperor, and couldn't help but sneer in his heart. What good is it for you three to flatter Du Xu? This man was recommended by Xin Pi to become a scribe, and he has been by the emperor's side longer than all of you!
Cao Rui smiled after hearing the officials' praises: "Just as during the Han Dynasty, some wealthy families in Shandong were moved to the Guanzhong region to guard the tombs, thus removing the threat while also making Guanzhong rich."
"Liaodong has a population of six hundred thousand, and if we take five percent as the rate of taxation, moving about thirty thousand people would be sufficient."
"Wubu," Cao Rui pointed at Du Xu with his finger, "How old are you this year, at thirty?"
Du Xu stood up and bowed and answered: "Your Majesty, the subject is thirty-three years old."
Cao Rui nodded: "I have always selected officials based on their abilities, without adhering to common logic. Wubu has been serving by my side for almost two years, so I will leave him here as the governor of Liaodong."
"This matter of relocating the people, I will also entrust to you. Do well, and do not disappoint me!"
Du Xu was stunned in place and couldn't believe his ears. He raised his hand tremblingly and bowed, "Does Your Majesty mean to appoint me as the governor of Liaodong?"
"How is that, do you not want it?" Cao Rui laughed and waved his hand with a playful tone, "If you don't want it, then it's not difficult for me to revoke my decision."
"I will willingly serve Your Majesty and the Great Wei with my utmost loyalty!" Du Xu shouted loudly, then immediately knelt down and made a big bow.
Du Xu was excited on this side, while the others in the hall were not calm. A governor of a large prefecture at the age of thirty-three, not to mention just the newly captured Liaodong, this favor cannot be said to be light. Moreover, it also mixed with a full trust of Du Xu.
Different people have different thoughts in their hearts.
The three justices were suddenly thinking of other positions in their hearts. With the governor of Liaodong, what about the prefectures of Xuantu, Dai Fang, and Le Wan? Do they all need a governor?
Could there be another military governor's office established here, or would one state be divided like the Qin State?
Sima Yi's eyes even showed a trace of envy. When he was thirty-three years old, he was still working in the Eastern Office of Cao Cao's Dabao Palace, and even he couldn't touch the position of a two thousand stone official.
Is it this good to be a close confidant of the emperor?
Thinking of this, Sima Yi couldn't help but smile sarcastically at the corner of his mouth. What's so great about being a governor at the age of thirty-three? After all, wasn't he still serving as a triprime at the age of forty?
With Du Xu's appointment confirmed, Cao Rui pointed at a few officials.
Xu Shu hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the subject has something to say."
The momentum was set with this initiative, and Cao Rui smiled while pointing at Xu Shu: "What do you have to say, Minister Xu?"
Xu Shu bowed and said: "The subject thinks that when the kingdom of Yansheng is conquered, a new state should be established in the land of Liaodong. The land of Yansheng is too vast, with distances of tens of thousands of miles in length, which is not conducive to the administration of the court."
"A new state?" Cao Rui blurted out: "I have also thought about this problem, but I haven't made a decision yet. When the Qin State was established, it was because the area of the Yong State was vast and had the Long Mountain blocking its path."
"And the situation in Liaodong is similar to what Minister Xu has said. I remember that in the past, Gongsun Du once established a Ping State in Liaodong and even styled himself as the Governor of Ping State."
"What do you think, Minister Xu, should we establish a new state in Liaodong?"
Xu Shu stood up and bowed: "The subject thinks that we should restore the ancient system and set up a Ying State in Liaodong, with Yanji River as the border with Yinxu." (End of this chapter)
